Today's Screen Of The Day is Small Cap Leaders, the cream of those nimbler companies. Four of the top five companies on the list are also on the IBD 50 list of top-rated stocks.

3D Systems (DDD) is No. 1 on the IBD 50 and the daily screen. It makes 3D printers, machines that use software code to make real items by layering materials. They make products ranging from small prototype toys to building walls. 3D printer prices fell below $1,000 last year, making them accessible to small businesses and individuals.

3D and Stratasys (SSYS), also on the IBD 50, are the two top publicly traded companies in this hot emerging market. Stratasys CEO David Reis recently told IBD that the outlook for 3D printing is strong going forward, but stressed that it won't ever "completely replace traditional manufacturing." 3D Systems shares rose a fraction Wednesday to a fresh record high. The stock is up 17% so far this year after a huge 2012.

Stratasys was unchanged but remains near last week's all-time high.

CommVault Systems (CVLT), data storage software firm, is No. 2 among small-cap leaders. Its signature Simpana line provides "deduplication" capability that lets companies reduce redundant data, greatly boosting network storage capacity. The stock broke out in late October on its latest earnings report and continued to advance to a Dec. 20 peak. Shares have bounced off the 50-day moving average several times in 2013.

The stock rose 0.4% Wednesday but is down slightly so far this year — the only one of the five companies highlighted here that has not enjoyed a sizable gain in 2013.

CommVault sports a 94 Composite Rating, meaning it's outperformed 94% of all stocks on key metrics such as sales and profit growth.

Ixia (XXIA) makes cards that can be inserted into network gear to test performance of their systems. Last summer, Ixia wrapped up acquisition of Anue Systems and BreakingPoint Systems, giving the company added heft. Revenue grew 42% in Q3 to $109.6 million.

On Monday, Ixia said Q4 revenue was $123.5 million to $124.5 million, topping Wall Street's projection of $123 million. Shares rose 9% and 8% on Tuesday — hitting a 7-1/2-year high — but fell 4.5% Wednesday.

PolyOne (POL) makes specialized resins and polymers, as well as additives used in plastics products. Over the last six years, PolyOne has used innovation, research and development to transform itself from a low-margin commodity supplier into a purveyor of high-tech, high-margin materials.

Like CommVault, its stock hasn't dipped below its 50-day and 200-day averages since October. Shares dipped 0.7% Wednesday, but are still up nearly 9% in 2013 and near its Jan. 4 peak.

The Medicines Co. (MDCO), which develops heart and blood-thinning drugs, rounds out the top 5 list. Shares jumped 12% on Jan. 8 to the highest price in almost five years after the biotech said its anti-clotting drug cangrelor worked in a late-stage clinical trial.

Jefferies said annual sales for the new drug could reach $370 mil in 2020.

Shares rose less than 1% Wednesday, but to the highest level since early 2007. The stock is up 25% so far this year.